YET to be tested this season, an unbeaten Orange CYMS will face a tough run over the next five weeks of the 2014 Group 10 premier league competition.
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But if the assessment of stand-in coach Scott Sullivan is anything to go by following the green and golds’ latest win, a 56-16 mauling of the Blayney Bears, the defending premiers are well placed to pass the assignment.
With his brother Mick on Western Rams selection duty in Dubbo, Scott Sullivan looked after CYMS’ bench in Saturday’s big win over Blayney and was more than happy with the hosts in patches throughout the 40-point win at Wade Park.
“I think they’re heading in the right direction,” Scott said.
“There’s structures in place, and it doesn’t matter who comes in, it’s easy to slot into those structures. But obviously when you turn players over at the start of the year there’s a bit of a period where guys get used to those structures.”
And, over the opening four rounds of the competition, those continuity issues have been evident.
Brilliant when on song, CYMS have endured patches where simple errors have plagued a sometimes disjointed attack.
Similarly, the club’s typically starch defence hasn’t been quite where it normally is.
But the sign of a good team is winning when its not at its best, and CYMS have been doing that comfortably in 2014.
With time on their side and a history of August-September dominance, Scott Sullivan, captain-coach of the club in 2009, believes CYMS are on the right track ahead of games against Bathurst Panthers next week.
CYMS then tackle three of the competition’s form sides in Cowra (home), Mudgee (away) and Bathurst St Pat’s (home).
“One of the strengths of CYMS is they tend to be playing their best football at the end of the year, and, at this stage, I’m no prophet, but it looks like the same thing’s going to happen this year hopefully,” Scott said.
nick.mcgrath@fairfaxmedia.com.au
